Texas A&M’s baseball roster will look very different during the 2026 season, mainly due to the host of departures through the 2025 MLB Draft, led by junior outfielder Jace LaViolette, who was selected 27th overall by the Cleveland Guardians, and is considered by many as the “steal of the draft” based on his power at the plate, which should easily translate after a couple of seasons.
At pick 27, LaViolette’s slot value is listed at $3,382,600 million, and according to MLB Pipeline writer Jim Callis, LaViolette has signed a $4 million deal with the Guardians, which, according to Callis, is the biggest over-slot deal in the draft, which isn’t surprising given the Tomball, Texas native’s surprising slide combined with his bright future under the right coaching staff.
Standing at 6’6″, LaViolette solidified his legendary status with the Aggies after just three seasons, holding several program records, starting with career home runs (68) and walks (163), while also ranking fourth in RBI (196) and total bases (438).
One of the reasons he dropped in the draft, however, can be attributed to his inconsistent play during his final 2025 season, finishing with a .258 batting average, 18 home runs, and 61 RBI, but striking out 66 times. If LaVioltte’s strikeout issues are fixed, you’re looking at a future All-Star once he makes it through the minor leagues.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Former Texas A&M star OF signs deal with the Cleveland Guardians
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
